Just days before his 21st birthday, Jack Grealish has signed a new four-year deal with Championship side Aston Villa, the club have announced.

Grealish, who turns 21 on Saturday- and once thought to be an Irish international in the making, before deciding to represent the country of his birth - first put pen to paper at Villa Park in 2012.

Indeed, the 20-year-old angered many an Ireland fan for the long deliberation on his international intentions. He has since lined out for the England U21s.

Entrusted by then Villa boss Tim Sherwood, Grealish announced himself to a wider football audience with a string of fine performances in the latter stages of the 2014-15 campaign.

However, last season he failed to maintain his form and also made the headlines for alcohol-fuelled extra curricular activities during the summer break.

Of course, Villa were relegated after a disastrous period, which saw them register just three league wins and finish at the foot of the table.

Now in the Championship under Roberto Di Matteo, the Birmingham outfit have hardly hit the ground running. They’ve managed just one win in five games but Grealish, having made four starts, has registered two goals thus far.

And, he is very happy to extend his stay at his boyhood club.

“Everyone knows this is a club I love dearly – and it’s the place I want to play my football,” he said in a statement released on the club’s website.

“Bodymoor Heath provides a great environment in which to continue my football education and to call Villa Park home is something I will never take for granted.

“We’re looking to return to the Premier League. I want to be a big part of that process and will be doing everything possible to make that a reality.”